Sarah Iannarone is an inter-national planning expert and a small-business owner in Outer Southeast Portland. She serves on many nonprofit boards, advised Portland’s Comprehensive Plan update, and helped guide the city’s five-year economic strategic plan. She is also a member of ELEEP, an international think tank on clean energy policy.
Iannarone is running for mayor of Portland. Here are her responses to Street Roots' candidates pop quiz — a mix of short-answer, yes-or-no, and multiple-choice questions. (Read other candidates' responses.)
QUESTION 1
You only have $10 million to spend. The fire bureau says that without $5 million, call times for critical services will be hampered, potentially costing people’s lives. Social-service agencies need $5 million because rent increases mean they can’t place people into housing, creating a backlog of people waiting to get off the streets. Both the police and the parks bureaus need critical support for services totaling $7 million. What do you do? (150 words or less)
I’d take the $10 million and build a 311 system, including cost-effective digital interfaces. Then, I’d reallocate the overall savings to human services and parks.
QUESTION 2
The Portland Police Bureau’s contract with the city says police officers involved in an incident using deadly force must receive 48 hours’ notice before being compelled to speak to bureau investigators. Average citizens, however, are questioned often immediately on the grounds of capturing the best memory of events. Yes or No: Would you abolish the 48-hour rule?
Yes, and then some.
QUESTION 3
Yes or No: As mayor, will you end the practice of contracting for military and militarized equipment for use by our police bureau?
Yes.
QUESTION 4
Please place the following items in order of priority as mayor. Note with 1, 2 and 3.
• Increase parking
• Bike infrastructure
• Low or no-fare public transit
1. Low- or no-fare public transit
2. Bike infrastructure
3. Make downtown a car-free zone
QUESTION 5
Choose the item in each pairing that is more suited to you:
1. Uber or Radio Cab
2. Raincoat or Umbrella
3. Adidas or Nike
4. Maple Bacon Doughnut or Kale
1. (Union Cab)
2. (Reflective rain cape)
3. (Sweatshop-free footwear & apparel, please!)
4. (Biscuits & Gravy)
QUESTION 6
Complete this sentence with the following options: I smoke marijuana ____________
a. For medicinal purposes only.
b. To decompress after a stressful day.
c. Recreationally. Hey, it’s legal.
d. Rarely.
e. Never.
c. I smoke marijuana recreationally. Hey, it’s legal (but I prefer bourbon).
QUESTION 7
Make one promise to the city’s people of color that you will deliver on as mayor. Street Roots will check on its status every year.
City of Portland is not lacking in diversity, but you could not tell this by looking at how our city government operates day-to-day. I will establish city-wide goals for diversity, equity and inclusion in our municipal workforce, procurement and contracting, economic development, and civic engagement activities. Our chief information officer will be responsible for tracking this goal and reporting our progress to the public in easy to understand ways. We’ll make it simple for Street Roots (and the rest of Portland) to keep track of city government promises in real time, not just once a year.
QUESTION 8
How will you ensure young people of color will succeed in Portland?
Our young people of color (and girls for that matter) don’t need any more programs. We can educate and train kids all day long to be a part of the workforce, but how can we inspire them to reach toward leadership positions within that workforce? How can we empower them to redesign the landscape of their communities – of our community – for the future? They need real life success stories of people who look like them succeeding and assuming positions of power. As mayor, I will be committed to promoting adults of color (and women) to highest positions in our city. If that means assuming control of ALL city bureaus until their leadership reflects this value, so be it.
QUESTION 9
In one sentence, state something you will do as mayor to ease the burden on Portland’s small businesses.
As a small-business owner, I know how difficult it can be navigating city bureaucracy, so I will have a small-business liaison in the mayor’s office – a problem-solving concierge, of sorts – to help them address their unique needs.
QUESTION 10
Pair the issue with the sentiment. Use each sentiment only once:
1. Sit-lie sidewalk law
2. Public campaign finance option
3. Expanded light rail transit into Washington St.
4. PPB Horse Patrol
a. Great idea
b. Good idea
c. Needs work
d. Nope
1. Sit-lie sidewalk law – d. Nope
2. Public campaign finance – b. Good idea
3. Expanded light rail – a. Great idea
4. PPB Horse Patrol – c. Needs work
QUESTION 11
Portland is losing significant, large trees at a rapid pace to development. In 50 words or less, what will you do to save these legacy trees?
Instead of fighting to save trees as a matter of development policy, let’s make it a fight to remove them. Many trees are more valuable than the cookie-cutter McMansions replacing them.
QUESTION 12
Yes or No: Understanding we’re going to have street homelessness, do you support tent cities?
Yes. Community matters. If economic refugees in a brutal system choose to gather together to improve their quality of life and increase their chances of survival, who am I to stop them?
QUESTION 13
Select a local artist – professional or amateur – to draw your favorite thing about Portland.